Meet Beatrice

Beatrice

I’ve just heard the most inspiring story of my life, and this is my feeble attempt to recount it to you in my own words. Where to start?

Beatrice Ayuru Byaruhunga is the daughter of an educator and incidentally, an educator herself. Ever since she was an eighteen year-old mother, with the ambition to provide a good lifestyle for her child and herself, she envisioned doing so by allowing access to education for young girls who, like her, were told that they would be a lost investment for the family, if they went to school instead of getting married off. A deal was then struck with her loving father, Christian, who challenged her and offered to give her any piece of land that she wanted in his possession, so that Beatrice could get started on her project, just as long as she worked hard in school, attended university and graduated with a degree in education.

Needless to say, her firm resolve saw her pass her A-level exams with the topmost scores in her district, allowing her to attend the best university in the country on scholarship and-although not without many challenges (such as raising 2 children and making a living)-graduate to then become an instructor. Beatrice was the first female student from her school to attend University, and the first one to be awarded a scholarship to do so. When the time came to claim the land that was promised to her, more challenges arose, involving her gender and her “right” to own land, and to say the least, a lot of it. Trouble was stirred, many were shocked, and opposition occurred, but this did not keep Beatrice’s father from keeping his promise, because he had colossal faith in her. The only problem that was left was how Beatrice would raise enough funds to begin her project, on a meager teacher’s salary (none of which was actually paid to her until 2 years afterwards) and now mother of 3 children. Beatrice had never been the type to sit and wait for a miracle. To the disenchantment of her fellow educators, she began to sell cassava and tea in the market, early in the morning before she taught her classes. Her colleagues saw it as a disgrace to their profession, and she was soon reported to hierarchy, only to be supported by transferring her efforts to the National Teachers’ College Ngetta grounds, where she supplied a small canteen with her food items.
About 700,000 UG Shillings later, she decided it was time to bring her vision into tangible form. In 2000, Lira Integrated School was founded on the very grounds that produced the cassava crops that allowed its inception, welcoming 6 students in nursery, 46 in primary, and 36 in secondary; all of this with contempt from a community that did not support women’s development. By the end of that very same school year, the nursery held 40 students, primary, 164, and secondary counted over 200.

After 2 years, primary student enrollment shot up to 800 for the primary unit, 200 for the nursery and 450 for the secondary section. During this period, Beatrice was the Head Teacher for all 3 institutions, while still teaching in a government school for 18hrs/week, running her wheelbarrow and the canteen simultaneously.

Today, Lira Integrated School is exploring opportunities for growth and the potential expansion of the institution into a University.

Beatrice said it best:

“Never let anyone get in between you and your vision, or else you will never see your dreams come true.”

The University already has a sign!